The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-02
JOSS STICKS ABOUT HIS GRAVE.
Extraordinary Obsequies of Lee Tong,
Chinese Freemason.
Fyom the Nelp York Herald


From the NeIU York Herald.
Mott street swarmed with mounful
Cinnamon yesterday afternoon. One of
their number, and "A prominent one too, lay
dead in neighboring undertaken shop
ready for burial For an hour before the
funeral, which was at o'clock, sad-eyed
Mongolians dotted their hats at the shop
door, and treading on tlptoe, softly entered
TO gaze ON the face of Lee Tong, their de
parted brother. Tong was a Freemason.
He belonged to the Contucius Lodge, of
which he was official interpreter He died
on Sunday at No. 10 Mott street of con
sumption.
The dead Chinaman was about &c years
old, poor, but popular, and was buried by
the Lune Gee Yee Tong, n society to which
he belonged. The ceremony was peculiar
and interesting. 1t was the ancient
Masonic service and full of all sorts of
queer but imposing observances,
STRANGE FUNERAL RITES. =
Sharply at o'clock chair was placed at
the foot of the coffin and ON it were laid a
quaint box of candies, two large and highly
ornamented candles a bowl of rice and
little teacups Two fellow Masons squatted
down by the sides of the chair with an odd
looking teapot which they used to fill the
cups with as they were emptied by the
mourners Two by two the friends of the
departed Celestial, after bowling three times
TO the coffin, knelt down, some kissing the
floor, and sprinkled tea about large
wooden dish that was placed in front of the
chair. Then they waved lighted joss sticks
until the whole room was full of the smell
of burning cedar
One of the mouIners in passing the head
of the deceased Chinaman was observed to
drop small coin into his mouth.
The ceremony took up an hour Then
the coffin, we'll packed with Chinese playing
cards, was. after the dead mans lips had
been moistoned for the last time with tea,
declared ready for removal TO Evergreens
Cemetery. Nearly 100 Cinnamon followed
1t there IN carriages, scattering colored pa.
pers all the way to keep Off the evil spirits.
The intermcHt was in plot belonging 10
the Chinese society, but not before used by
them known rs Bathsde.
CHINESE MASONIC ,HoNoRs.
When the funeral had entered the come
terry the Chinese Masous put on paper
aprons, threw away their cigarettes and
grew perfectly silent The filling of the
grave was begun nearly as soon as the
collin was lowered. As the earth fell the
Master Workman of the lodge said tn,
ancient Mongoiau ritual, the mourner,
chanted and then each one rolled up hi,
apron INTO a tiny wand and let il drop gently
into the fast filing grave After that ON,
by one they kuelt down at the foot, bowine
three times and uttering low, wailinC
noise, rose quickly and passed away
During the services at the grave Chimes,
candles were lighted, and, with burning JOS
sticks were left smoking on the newly mad,
mound. A fat well Drowned chicken wa,
also deposited there, and the sward wei
carpeted with the many colored papers O
the kind thrown from the carriages
Altogether the services, from the earncS
manner of the participants, impressed one a
being very solemn and picturesque.